tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1145999563610110636.post-60833671134109768222018-02-05T20:55:00.000Z2018-02-05T20:55:00.957ZNZ Catholic Church admits 'a small number' of children here were fathered by priestsThe head of an Irish support group for the children of Catholic priests says there are several in New Zealand - and the church has acknowledged it.<br /><div class="storyPage paragraph"> Vincent Doyle of Coping International has appealed to New Zealand's Catholic Bishops to address the issue of supposedly-celibate priests fathering children, and then leaving those children to be cared for by their mothers.</div><div class="storyPage paragraph"> Mr Doyle claims that six New Zealanders have joined his support group.</div><div class="tile advert right labelled height_250 rendered height_274" data-google-query-id="CLzuxPvTj9kCFRch0wodEn4AGA" id="dynslot0"><div class="title">Advertisement</div></div><div class="storyPage paragraph"> A spokesperson for NZ Catholic Bishops has confirmed to 1 NEWS that "there is a small number of people here, whose father is a priest".</div><div class="storyPage paragraph"> The spokesperson also said that their organisation is "aware that New Zealand civic society has good guidelines around a child’s right to know his or her natural parents".</div><div class="storyPage paragraph"> "For our Bishops, what is important is that the rights and sensitivities of the child and the mother are respected.</div><div class="storyPage paragraph"> "In other words, this is a pastoral situation where a listening ear and heart are vital.</div><div class="storyPage paragraph"> "Also, our Bishops firmly believe that being the father of a child carries with it responsibilities which again would need to be discussed with the child and mother.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/nz-catholic-church-admits-small-number-children-here-were-fathered-priests">https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/nz-catholic-church-admits-small-number-children-here-were-fathered-priests</a>&nbsp;</div>Andy Bialeknoreply@blogger.com